Darwin, C. R.

Darwin-Hooker Letters

"Climbing plants" sent off. Encourages Hooker to include notes on gradation of important characters in Genera plantarum or to write a paper on the subject. Has given prominence to gradation of unimportant characters in climbing plants. Believes that it is common for the same part in an individual plant to be in different states. Same may be true of important parts – for example position of ovule may differ. Two articles in last Natural History Review interested him; "Colonial floras" [n.s. 5 (1865): 46–63] and "Sexuality of cryptogams" [n.s. 5 (1865): 64–79]. Fact of similarity of orders in tropics is extremely curious. Thinks it may be connected with glacial destruction. Leo Lesquereux says he is a convert for the curious reason that Darwin's books make birth of Christ and redemption by grace so clear to him! "Not one question [for Hooker] in this letter!"